'Retrieve bone if you can't pull out body': Family of Meghalaya miners trapped in illegal rat-hole mine appeal to rescuers
FirstpostThe body which was detected 160 feet under water have not been recovered yet because of its fragile state. Three days after rescuers detected one body trapped in at the accident site of Ksan coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills, the family members of 17 ill fated coal miners have urged the rescuers to recover the bodies in whatever shape they are. “We want the bodies, if you cannot pull out the bodies, even a bone will do, for we need to perform their last rites,” says Nurkamal Sheikh, uncle of Moinul Islam and Amir Hussain, two of the coal miners who were trapped in the illegal rat-hole mine on 13 December. At night, I and one of my friends Amin Uddin sleep in a Mosque as arranged by the SP Sir of Khlierhriat police station.” Amin Uddin, a 22 year-old coal miner had proved to be crucial in spotting the body inside the mine as he was one of the 17 miners who were involved in digging the 320-feet-deep rat-hole mine. With the help of the input of Amin, Sayeb Ali — another survivor — and some other coal miners involved in digging of the mine, the joint rescue team was able to detect the first body, 34 days after the accident.